West Ham boss Sam Allardyce eyes January sales with Demba Ba back on his wish list

With injured striker Andy Carroll unlikely to be fit to return for West Ham until around Christmas, manager Sam Allardyce looks certain to try and solve his striking crisis during the transfer window.

Former Hammers striker Demba Ba is one option and Allardyce tried to sign the Senegalese front man from Chelsea at the start of the season.

Spanish club Valencia are also thought to be interested in Ba and Allardyce knows he will need other options as he looks to boost his barren striking department.

Carroll is still in Belgium working on his rehabilitation from a foot injury with top physio Lieven Maesschalck and Allardyce believes he will need a month before he is ready to play following his return to training with the club.

The task of finding the back of the net, which again proved too much for West Ham in their goalless draw with Aston Villa, could fall increasingly on Carlton Cole, who is nearing full match fitness following his return to the club on a short-term deal.

“I’m nearly there now,” he said. “I didn’t have a pre-season and you can train on your own but it’s not the same as being with a team.

“Now it’s up to the manager. Because I’ve been fast-tracked there is a risk of picking up an injury and the medical team here know exactly how to manage me.”